BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Higher Education (Student Support)

David Willetts: Today I am announcing measures to modernise the disabled students’ allowances which are available to higher education students from England.
	Disabled students’ allowances (DSAs) are non-repayable grants that assist with the additional costs that a disabled student incurs in relation to their study in higher education. DSAs currently provide a range of support. This includes the purchase of laptops and specialist equipment, provision of support workers and assistance with additional travel costs. The support is not means-tested and is available for eligible full-time and part-time students, studying at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
	In 2011-12 DSAs provided over £125 million of additional support for over 53,000 full-time undergraduate higher education students, compared with £91.7 million awarded to 40,600 students in 2008-09.
	I announced earlier this year that maximum grants for full-time, part-time and postgraduate students with disabilities will be maintained at 2014-15 levels in 2015-16.
	I am announcing a number of changes aimed at modernising the current system, subject to the equality impact assessment. This will ensure that the limited public funding available for DSAs is targeted in the best way and to achieve value for money, while ensuring those most in need get the help they require.
	DSAs have been available since 1974, with the four separate allowances being introduced in 1990. The current arrangements do not recognise technological advances, increases in use of technology or the introduction of the Equality Act 2010. It has been almost 25 years since the DSA scheme was reviewed, unlike other areas of student support.
	The proposals outlined below look to rebalance responsibilities between Government funding and institutional support. We will look to HEIs to play their role in supporting students with mild difficulties, as part of their duties to provide reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act. These are partly anticipatory duties and we expect HEIs to introduce changes which can further reduce reliance on DSAs and help mainstream support. We will be consulting with specialists in the sector to ensure that specific learning difficulties (SpLD) students understand the type of support they can expect to receive and who will provide it.
	We recognise that students will continue to need support. However, we believe that HEIs are better placed to consider how to respond in many cases, including giving greater consideration to the delivery of their courses and how to provide support. The need for some individual non-medical help (NMH) may be removed through different ways of delivering courses and information. It is for HEIs to consider how they make both anticipatory reasonable adjustments and also reasonable adjustments at an individual level.
	The key changes are set out below:
	We will pay for higher specification or higher cost computers where a student needs one solely by virtue of their disability. We will no longer pay for standard specification computers or the warranties and insurance associated with them. We will no longer pay for higher specification and/or higher cost computers simply because of the way in which a course is delivered. We are changing our approach to the funding of a number of computer equipment, software and consumable items through DSAs that have become funded as “standard” to most students.
	Students with specific learning difficulties will continue to receive support through DSAs where their support needs are considered to be more complex.
	We will fund the most specialist non-medical help. HEIs are expected to consider how they deliver information to students and whether strategies can be put in place to reduce the need for support workers and encourage greater independence and autonomy for their students.
	The additional costs of specialist accommodation will no longer be met by DSAs, other than in exceptional circumstances.
	We are also clarifying a number of policy changes. We will define disability in relation to the definition provided by the Equality Act 2010, for the purposes of receiving DSAs. We will also introduce a requirement for registration for those providers offering DSA study needs assessments and DSA assistive technology service providers.
	The changes will ensure DSAs provide support where it is needed the most.
	The changes in this statement will apply to all full-time, full-time distance learning, part-time and postgraduate students applying for DSA for the first time in respect of an academic year beginning on or after 1 September 2015. This provides sufficient time for us to work with institutions and stakeholders to ensure the changes are introduced effectively.
	Existing DSA students and DSA students for 2014-15 entry will remain on the current system of support for 2015-16.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Eric Pickles: It is a matter of public record that Ministers have long been concerned about a worrying pattern of divisive community politics and alleged mismanagement of public money by the mayoral administration in Tower Hamlets.
	My Department has now received certain documents which make serious allegations about poor governance and financial management at the council. Having considered these carefully, on Friday 4 April, I exercised the powers granted to me by Parliament under the Local Government Act 1999 (as amended by the recently commenced Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014) to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) to carry out an inspection of the authority’s compliance with its best value duty. A file has also been passed on to the Metropolitan police for consideration.
	The inspectors arrived at the council on Friday morning. They will be speaking to the council and to external sources.
	The matters to be covered initially by the inspection will in particular relate to: the authority’s payment of grants and connected decisions; the transfer of property by the authority to third parties; spending and decisions
	of the authority in relation to publicity, and the authority’s processes and practices for entering into contracts. The inspection will cover the period from Monday 25 October 2010 (when the mayoral form of governance was implemented in Tower Hamlets) to the present.
	I have asked PwC to report their findings to me by 30 June 2014, or such later date as the inspector agrees with me.
	I hope this decision sends a strong signal that robust processes are in place to investigate allegations of failures in financial management and governance in local government, under the new regime introduced by the Local Audit and Accountability Act which replaces the Audit Commission.
	I hope hon. Members will appreciate that we cannot be drawn into more detail while investigations are ongoing. Once the inspection team has completed its work, I will carefully consider the inspection report before taking any further action. Should it be necessary, I have powers to intervene in a council under section 15 of the 1999 Act.
	This action is not undertaken lightly, but localism requires local transparency, scrutiny and accountability, and these vital checks and balances must be upheld.

CABINET OFFICE

Boundary Commissions (Triennial Review)

Nicholas Clegg: I am today announcing the start of the triennial review of the Boundary Commissions for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Triennial reviews of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring that NDPBs continue to have regular challenge on their remit and governance arrangements.
	The review will be undertaken by the Cabinet Office.
	In common with all such reviews the following will be undertaken:
	to provide assurance on the continuing need for these NDPBs—both their functions and form; and
	to review their control and governance arrangements to ensure that they are complying with recognised principles of good corporate governance.
	The aim will be to complete the review in the summer.

JUSTICE

Bailiffs

Chris Grayling: The Government have implemented new laws, effective from yesterday, to deliver their commitment to provide protection against aggressive bailiffs in England and Wales while ensuring that debt can still be collected fairly.
	Enforcement action is necessary for both the economy and the justice system and the Government recognise that bailiffs carry out a difficult role in challenging circumstances. While the majority operate in a responsible and proportionate manner, a significant few use unsafe, unsound and unfair methods of collection, casting a shadow over the reputations of respectable individuals. We are clear that this is unacceptable. At the same time we are also clear that legitimate creditors should be able to collect the money that is owed to them in a fair and responsible manner. The measures contained within these new laws strike this balance between the rights of debtors and the rights of creditors.
	We have swept away the antiquated and confusing laws which can thwart effective and proportionate enforcement and have introduced in their place new laws which are fit for today’s society. The reforms tackle the root causes of aggressive bailiff action by clarifying the law so that all parties are aware of their rights and responsibilities.
	The use of force against an individual has been banned. We have also prevented entry to properties late at night, without first seeking permission from the court, or where only children are present. The enforcement process and procedure has been defined clearly in legislation setting out how bailiffs can enter a property, what goods can and cannot be seized for sale, and crucially, what costs a bailiff can charge. These changes are set against effective and targeted regulation which will ensure that bailiffs are fit to carry out this work by introducing certification for all bailiffs which will involve mandatory training and competence requirements.
	These much needed reforms ensure that individuals, businesses and bailiffs will all benefit and will help strengthen our economy and justice system.